Peter asked :we are concerned with and focused on the role of design in relation to narrative. Every great director is a genius with narrative, that’s a given. This issue in relation to any filmmaker would be – what is their relationship to design, and to a cross-media discussion that might exclude conventional linear film narrative, and therefore force a different discussion of world-building
From Shekhar :Peter, we are the stories we tell ourselves. We are our own Mythology. And stories are us being thrown into moral conflict at many levels. Political, plot, psychological and mythological. And the most effective stories are those in which we are so achingly close to finding resolution and therefore harmony within the conflict, but the moment we find that harmony we are confronted by another conflict –
But isn’t all art and poetry and music also the yearning for harmony in conflicting words, notes or colours ? And greatest artist provoking us in and out of that harmony, causing us to shed tears of discovery and emotion.
So what’s different in design ? Design of a film must add another dimension to a film, but also create conflict and encourage us to search for harmony in that conflict. Within the broader vision of the film, but at the same time adding another dimension to the plot. Sometimes even in conflict with the plot but not in conflict with the central conflict of the film.
And if that’s for something as immense as a film, is it not the same for a design of a pendant or even a chair ?
If there is no conflict, their is no curiosity. But if there is no suggestions of harmony, there is no beauty or joy. But constant harmony will be boring, so the conflict must be provoked every time u sense he design.

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17 Responses to “Film Design in relationship to Film Narrative”

YAwwn! Good Morning Shekhar!
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Some characters provoke/instill and awake emotion some characters need to be awoken …the difference is there
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The one who awakes is in a higher level ….some folks despite being awakened tend to snoReee….they are meant to be that way…
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Awakened characters need no outer force or emotion for them to seek conflict, for any reason…they are in constant motion of various orders of emotion, intelligence etc….
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Chayei chahiyei chaayeiiiiiiiiiiiii
SnoReee

The only reality is that in ‘Love’ One need not awaken nor instill….
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It is a natural harmony of a high order that does not come by seeking but happens, in its own natural form….nothing can surpass this…
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Provoking/instilling in any order in this aspect is lies…a temporary illusion!
SnoRee

it was all comprehensible until i came down to “sometimes even in conflict with the plot but not in conflict with the central conflict of the film.”
can some brighter mind out there elaborate on what this means to a mind that’s illiterate around this parlance?

Very insightful Shekhar,
Today was a long weekend here in US,(indipendence Day) 4th of july. My daughter wanted to hang out with me. Spent couple hrs with her and made a horror short out of it. Little gal had a real fun doing that. Please check it out here its only 2 mins.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtYw81g1TGE
Regards!
Sanjay

When a child learns to walk he constantly falls down. There is conflict with the harmony of movement that he is trying to achieve. But the desire for struggle (not harmony) is so much in a child that he is not worried about falling. That is how children learn to crawl, walk, talk, etc, through constant struggle. But from the outside it looks as if children are at complete peace and are not trying for harmony. Actually they are at peace with the struggle. They dont mind the struggle unlike the grownups.

(This is my personal opinion – it may be or may not be true)
Dear Peter,
“Every great director is a genius with narrative – that’s a given!”
That statement is too powerful with choicest of words put together but rare to find “Great Director” who also is “Genius” with narrative.
Cross-media with film narration for world building? Yes its huge topic!
The basic need is to have a concept that is universal and a great director, who is genius with narration to that universal concept to build the world!
That director either has to write his own concept (or)
That genius director has to get a story from a writer and make it his own till he gets to that X factor
So for either of the cases one needs a story…a story design for best narration possible, raising to the level of art and perfect interpretation of that ‘genius’ director.
Story needs conflict! That’s the heart!
And here comes the question…if story raises to the level of art…what is the best art form?
I would like to give my opinion that the greatest art form in narration to that story will be “Rebellion”
And that is why Shekhar Kapur says that we are so achingly close to finding the resolution, trying to harmonize within the conflict but then another comes up…and so on!
Story narration will also depend on the internal moral conflict of the main character…and in that lies the philosophical question. Every good film has a philosophical question. That writer or director has to find that one point and then with various elements, dimensions, sub-plots it becomes a great journey to unfold the story.

dear sir,
i have known you through mr.india since i was almost 10 or 12 but i was never aware of you as a person. i have been following the talent show in which you are a judge. sir, last three years of my life have been nothing but turmoil. i lost my father and i have still not recovered from the loss. i am 30 now. but i never cried. i am a very emotional person but i was very very scared to even shed a tear. i used to break down everyday in my heart but i could never talk to anybody about it. but seeing you in the show gave me so much strength. the way you are at ease with your emotions is extra ordinary. i have met many people who are strong and super achievers but what they lack is the contact with the inner self. i almost started believing that men have no right to be soft but every day i was killing myself. i thank you with all my heart that today when i was taking a shower a few tears came to my eyes and i did not stop them . sir i cried for almost ten minutes and i can not describe how i am feeling. sir i love you for showing me the path and for saving the emotional child in me.

Dear Mr. KAPUR,
My husband and I are professors at the University of Illinois and recently came across a fascinating book – The Indian Clerk on the life of Ramanujam when he visited with Hardy the mathematician. The book would be amazing material for a movie – have you had a chance to come across it? If you havent already please take a moment to give it a read.
We are of course big fans of your work.
Best wishes

Dear Mr. KAPUR,
My husband and I are professors at the University of Illinois and recently came across a fascinating book – The Indian Clerk on the life of Ramanujam when he visited with Hardy the mathematician. The book would be amazing material for a movie – have you had a chance to come across it? If you havent already please take a moment to give it a read.
We are of course big fans of your work.
Best wishes

How have you been ?
Just visited this blog after a looong time and its still as beautiful to read as always ….when i read this particular blog of yours on films and its narrative , it reminded me of a film that i saw recently called “Khargosh “by Paresh Kamdar .. brilliant manner in which the director has combined the real and imaginary world of the little boy leaves a deep impression on ones mind especially when the dialogues in the movie were few and far between ….what you have beautifully stated about “harmony within the conflict” and also that “design of the film must add another dimension to the film “just reminded me of that movie …….